Switch-operating mechanism.



A. B. KALTSCHMIDT. SWITCH OBRATING MECHANISM.

Patented July 18, 1911.

r\\\\e\ YX m ALBERT E. KALTSCHMIDT, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Application filed February 4, 1910.

h all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that l, ALBERT E. KALT- sorriim'r, a subject of the Emperorof Germany, residing at Detroit, in the county of llifayne and State ofMichigainhave invented certain new and useful Improvements inSwitch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specilication,reference being had therein to the accompanying draw'iings.

In the customary construction of railway switches and switch stands noprovision is made for holding the switch points in position in case theswitch stand is knocked out of position.

This invention relates to a switch that is adapted to automatically lockand hold the switch point in position in case of accident to the switchstand itself.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a railway switchand switch stand that embodies features of the invention; Fig. 2 is aview in vertical section through the stand with the parts in releasedposition; and Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationof one form of locking device.

Referring to the drawings 1 indicates a portion of a track of standardconstruction with a pair of switch points 2 coupled b v the usual tiebars 3, the forward one of which is connected by a link et to an uprightcrank rod 5. The latter is mounted in any preferred form of switch stand6 so as to be thrown by a handle 7 whose outer end 8 is pivoted to fallinto interlocking relation with a quadrant plate 9 on the stand. A pushrod 10 is connected at one end to the tie bar 8 and at the other end toa'latch bar 11. The latter is longitudinally reciprocable in a casing 1Qthat is pivoted or otherwise made fast to one of the track ties 13 onwhich the stand G is placed..

A vertical movable pin 14C in the casing 12 is supported by a crosspivot 15 in the forked end 16 of a rock arm 17. The latter is keyed orotherwise secured to a rock shaft 18 journaled in the casing on theouter end of which a lever 19 is secured. A counter-balance weight 2O issecured to the outer end of the lever 19 and a hollow or cupped bearingplate 21 to the other end beneath Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1911.

Serial No. 542,077.

end of a trigger rod 22 that has sliding engagement in a suitable guideplate 23 on the stand with its foot against the bearing plate 21. rlheupper end of the pin 14C is adapted to enter suitable apertures in thelatch bar 11 when the switch is at either end of its throw. Toaccommodate switches of different throws one opening 2a of the latch baris elongated and in register always with a smaller' opening 25 formed ina strap 2G whose downturned end 27 is adjustable loir gitudinally onascrewthreaded stem 28 extending from the adjacent end of the latch bar11, nuts 29 holding the strap in the dcsired position.

lThe parts are so proportioned that when the switch handle is raised andtherefore unlocked from the quadrant plate of the stand, the weightedlever is depressed, thus moving the latch pin out of engagement with thelatch bar and allowing the switch pin to be moved freely. When theswitch is thrown as desired, and the handle de pressed so as tointerlock with the switch quadrant, the weighted lever is free to movedown and throw the latch pin into engagement with the latch bar. Thisholds the switch points fast, and if the stand be overthrown they arestill kept rigidly in position.

Obviously, changes in details of construction may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and l do not care to limitmyself to any particular' form or arrangement of parts.

That l claim as my invention is:

1. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a switchstand, a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points, anda handle for turning the crank rod adapted to interlock with t-he standwhen the points are thrown, of a rod connected to the points, a lockingmember for said rod, an oscillatory member' turned in one direction bygravity to operate the locking member and lock the rod, said oscillatorymember having an end extending beneath the switch stand, and avertically movable member carried by the handle with its lower endmaintained in the path of movement of the end of the oscillatory memberbeneath the stand and its upper end adapted to interlock with the standwhen the handle is moved to inoperative position, said movement of thehandle also raising said member out of engagement with sai' end of theoscillatory member` to permit said member to be operated by gravity tolock the said rod.

2. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a. switchstand, and a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points,of a handle on the stand rotatable upon a vertical axis to turn thecrank rod and pivoted to turn upon a horizontal axis into inoperativeposition, a push rod connected to the points, a lever adapted to lockthe rod having an end extending beneath the stand below the lower end ofthe crank rod` and a vertically movable rod extending parallel with thevertical axis of the crank rod connected to said handle and movableconeentrically about said axis with said handle and having a lower endoffset into alineinent with said axis of the crank rod beneath the lowerend of the same and above the end ot said lever for locking the pushrod, said vertically movable rod being moved vertically by the turningot the handle upon its horizontal pivot.

8. In a railway switch, the combination with switch points, a switchstand, and a crank rod on the stand operatively connected to the points,ot a handle on the stand rotatable upon a vertical axis to turn thecrank rod and pivoted to turn upon a horizontal axis into inoperativeposition, a push rod connected to the points, a locking' member tor thepush rod, a lever for actuating the locking member pivoted inter mediateits ends and provided with a weight at one end and a cup at its oppositeend beneath the lower end of the crank rod, and a rod connected to saidhandle at its upper end to be moved vertically by the turning oi" saidhandle upon its horizontal pivot and movable with said handle about thevertical axis of said crank rod, saidrod being provided with a lower endto engage the said cup ol'l'set into alinement with said axis beneathtie lower end of said crank rod.

et. in a rail 'av switch, the combination with switch points, a switchstand, a crank rod ou the stand operatively connected to the points, anda handle for turning the crank rod adapted to interlock with the standwhen the points are thrown, of a rod connected to the points` a casing`supported adjacent to the base ot the stand, latch bar reciprocablethrough said casing and connected to said push rod, a rock-shaft in thecasing, means in the casing operated by the turning ot the rock-shaftfor engaging and locking' the latch bar`r a lever secured intermediateits ends to the outer end ot said rock-shaft, a weight on one end ofsaid level' and a cup upon the opposite end beneath the stand` and a rodpivotally connected to the handle at its upper end to be moved verti-;ally thereliiy with its lower end above the said cup.

5. ln a raili'ay switch, the combinutimi with switch points, a switchstand, a crank rod on the stand oigieratively connected to the points.and a handle 'for turning the crank rod adapted to interlof-l; with thestand when the pivots are thrown, oi a rod connected to the points. a.casing supported adjacent to the base ot' the stand. a latch barreciproeable through said easing and connected to said push rod, arock-shaft in the casing, a longitudinally movable. pin guided in thecasing and adapted to engage, openings in the bar, an arm on therock-sluii't opeatively engaging the pin to move, the salueT a weightedlever secured to the outer end ot the rock-shaft having an cud extendingbeneath the lower end ot the crank rod. and an actuating rod for thelever on the stand extending parallel with the crank rod and carriedthereby :bout the vertical axis thereo2 upon the turning ot said crankrod by said handle, said adjusting rod being Connected. to said handleat its upper end to be moved vertically thereby and otllset at its lowerend into the vertical axial line oi' tle crank rod beneath the lower endot the same to engage the end of the weighted lever. ln testimonywhereof l ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

l-NLBEB'I l. KAI/FS(lfllillrl'll Witnesses:

ANNA M. Donn, (t. E. Mcticxxx Copies of this patent may be obtained forave cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente;` Washington,D. C.

